Previous code

This biotope occurred in previous versions of the classification as:CMU.SpMeg.Fun - Version: 97.06

Distribution of habitat SS.SMu.CFiMu.SpnMeg.Fun Seapens, including Funiculina quadrangularis, and burrowing megafauna in undisturbed circalittoral fine mud, based on records on the UK Marine Recorder database and EUSeaMap. Red dots represent records on which the biotope is based. Blue dots show other certain records, black dots show records tentatively assigned to this biotope. Yellow areas show level 2 and 3 sublittoral and deep-sea habitats prediced by EUSeaMap within UK waters.

Biotope description

Deep muds, especially in sealochs, support forests of the nationally scarce Funiculina quadrangularis, in addition to populations of the seapens Virgularia mirabilis and Pennatula phosphorea. The sediment is usually extensively burrowed by crustaceans, the most common of which is Nephrops norvegicus, but Calocaris macandreae and Callianassa subterranea may also be present (the latter is likely to be under-recorded by grab sampling because it is deep burrowing). The burrowing anemone Cerianthus lloydii is present in low numbers in this biotope and the rare anemone Pachycerianthus multiplicatus may also be found occasionally. Amphiura spp. are also often present in high densities.

Situation

Temporal variation

Similar biotopes

This biotope is distinguished from SpnMeg by the presence of the nationally scarce seapen Funiculina quadrangularis.

Characterising Species

Taxa

Frequency

Typical Abundance

% Contribution to similarity

Abundance (no.2)

Funiculina quadrangularis

F

23

Virgularia mirabilis

O

10

Pennatula phosphorea

F

14

Cerianthus lloydii

O

8

Terebellidae

O

1

Nephrops norvegicus

F

13

Pagurus bernhardus

O

3

Munida rugosa

O

2

Liocarcinus depurator

O

3

Turritella communis

F

3

Aequipecten opercularis

O

1

Asterias rubens

O

6

Amphiura filiformis

A

3

Example photographs of biotope

No characteristic photos currently available.
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Version 15.03 of the classification adds a deep-sea section to version 04.05; therefore superseding version 04.05, 97.06 and 03.02.